Rooney and United haggling over image rights

Wayne Rooney's image rights deal appears to be the final hurdle for Manchester United to overcome as they move closer to securing the striker on a new long-term contract.

While Rooney's potential salary and performance-based incentives - which could see him earn up to £300,000-a-week - are understood to have been settled by the player's camp and United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, it is reported that both sides are haggling over the percentage of the player's image rights.

Rooney's representatives may be looking to hold on to a percentage for the 28-year-old in order to keep open the prospect of securing other lucrative commercial deals.

However, United wish to gain control over Rooney's image in exchange for his vast weekly salary, which is set to be a record figure for Premier League wages and could land him around £70 million over the course of the reported four-and-a-half year deal.

It is not thought the issue will affect the overall outcome of Rooney penning a new contract and the deal could be announced as early as Friday.

Rooney looked certain to leave Old Trafford last summer with Chelsea circling after he grew disillusioned with the club and his treatment by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.